CNN’s POLITICAL GUT CHECK | for June 30, 2014 | 5 p.m.
— n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

POTUS VOWS TO TAKE EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION ...President Barack Obama said Monday he was starting "a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own, without Congress," adding that he directed his team to recommend steps he can take this summer and that he would then act on those steps "without delay." Obama said he would act because House Speaker John Boehner told him last week the chamber wouldn’t vote on a comprehensive bill this year. – Tom Cohen and Cassie Spodak

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER IN A STATEMENT: “It is sad and disappointing that … President Obama won't work with us, but is instead intent on going it alone."Follow @GutCheckCNNFollow @sarafischerSCOTUS RULES AGAINST OBAMACARE CONTRACEPTION MANDATE ...The Supreme Court ruled that certain for-profit businesses cannot be required to pay to cover some types of birth control for their employees. In a 5-4 decision, the high court's conservatives essentially ruled that some businesses have religious rights.The decision, which comes two years after the justices narrowly preserved the Affordable Care Act and its key funding provision, could serve as a primer for other pending challenges to Obamacare. – Bill Mears

SENATE DEMOCRATS “WILL DO SOMETHING” ... A Senate Democratic leadership aide tells CNN that Senate Democrats “will do something”in response to the Supreme Court decision and are moving toward a floor vote on a to-be-determined Democratically-crafted bill. The exact language of the proposed bill and the timing of when it would be introduced are still be worked out, the source added. Any such bill is expected to meet with a wall of resistance from Republicans and does not have a strong chance of passing, still the Democrats want to get a vote on the record. – Lisa Desjardins

Gut Check Full Service: A July 19 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that the majority of Americans disagree with SCOTUS’ decision, while a Gallup poll released Monday finds that the public’s confidence in the Supreme Court is at a record low.

2014 WATCH: A SILVER LINING FOR DEMOCRATS? At first glance, Monday's Supreme Court ruling appears to be a defeat for the White House, Democrats and the health care reform measure they pushed into law. But ruling could motivate younger women and unmarried women to show up at the polls come November. Exit polls indicate that unmarried and younger women support Democrats over Republicans, but their numbers also traditionally drop from presidential elections to midterm contests. – Paul Steinhauser

A MESSAGING PROBLEM FOR THE GOP?Many Republicans trying to rally the female vote in 2014 called the Supreme Court’s decision as a win for the First Amendment. Rep. Cory Gardner, who is looking to unseat Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado, responded by also calling for the Food and Drug Administration to move quickly to make oral contraceptives available to women without a prescription. “This easy step will make oral contraceptives both accessible and affordable for every woman who wants them,” Gardner said in a statement.

Erick Erickson (@EWErickson)
It was a tough choice today. Celebrate Hobby Lobby by going to Chick-Fil-A or making my wife make me a sandwich. #CFAFTW

2016 WATCH: ON THE RIGHT ... RAND PAUL’S BIG HIRE IN IOWA ...Sen. Rand Paul, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, named former Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Steve Grubbs as the chief strategist of his Iowa RANDPAC operation Monday. Grubbs is a veteran of Iowa presidential campaigns, having worked for Bob Dole, Steve Forbes, Tommy Thompson Herman Cain.

ON THE LEFT ... CLINTON SLAMS SCOTUS RULING ...“I find it deeply disturbing that we are going in that direction,” Clinton said at the Aspen Institute Ideas Forum Monday. “It is a disturbing trend that you see in a lot of societies that are very unstable, anti-democratic and frankly prone to extremism - where women and women's bodies are used as the defining and unifying issue to bring together people.”

ROMNEY DONOR TAPPED TO LEAD THE V.A. ... President Barack Obama nominated Bob McDonald - a West Point graduate and former CEO of Procter & Gamble - to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. McDonald would take over a troubled department for the Democratic administration, despite having previously donated to Republican political candidates such as House Speaker John Boehner and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

THE BUZZ: KISSING CONGRESSMAN REVERSES DECISION, WILL SEEK REELECTION ... Rep. Vance McAllister said Monday he will run for re-election in November despite previously announcing he would not seek another term. "Today, after consulting with my wife and family, I have made a decision to run for re-election for the 5th Congressional District," he said in statement. "I know the needs of this congressional district very well. I also know that this district needs a strong, conservative voice in Congress."

MARKET WATCH: U.S. stocks post gains for first half of 2014. Dow is more than 1% higher. NASDAQ and S&P 500 have risen about 6%.

Leading CNNPolitics: Who is VA nominee Bob McDonald?
Bob McDonald, President Barack Obama's pick to head the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs, has been in the hot seat before. That's when he led global consumer products giant Procter & Gamble in the throes of the Great Recession. – Gregory Wallace and Leigh Ann Caldwell

Leading CNNMoney:GM offers victims more than $1 million
General Motors offered at least $1 million Monday to the families of those who died as a result of a defect in GM cars. The automaker will give another $300,000 for each surviving spouse and dependent, in addition to a sum of money that will be determined by the victims' earning potential. – Katie Lobosco

SENATE CONSUMER PROTECTION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CLAIRE MCCASKILL IN A STATEMENT: “I’ll be closely reviewing Mr. Feinberg’s plan, but this is a necessary step on the road toward full accountability at General Motors.”

Leading Drudge: 5-4: Supremes Chip Away At Obamacare
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that some corporations can hold religious objections that allow them to opt out of the new health law requirement that they cover contraceptives for women. – AP’s Mark Sherman

Leading HuffPo:Elizabeth Warren Goes Where Obama Won't
Candidates from West Virginia and Kentucky, states where a visit by President Obama could doom Democrats’ prospects, are calling after (Elizabeth) Warren.– Real Clear Politics’ Caitlin Huey-Burns

Leading Politico:Blacks to Thad Cochran: You owe us
Thad Cochran won a primary runoff by turning out the black vote. Now they are asking — what are you going to do for us? Already the members of the Congressional Black Caucus are talking about what they want Cochran to do. The wish list is filling up with ideas like maintaining funding for food stamps, beefing up programs that help poor blacks in Mississippi and even supporting the Voting Rights Act. – Anna Palmer and Lauren French

Leading New York Times: On the Next Docket: Facebook, Rap Lyrics and Free Speech
Just four years ago, the Supreme Court issued a hesitant and muddled decision in a privacy case, saying it was best to move slowly when ruling on an “emerging technology before its role in society has become clear.” The cutting-edge innovation in the case: pagers ... Now there is a new challenge looming on the docket for the term that starts in October, one that will require the court to consider how the First Amendment applies to social media. – Adam Liptak

HOT SOTSThe political bites of the day

- Obama: House Republicans afraid to stand up to tea party -PRESIDENT OBAMA IN IMMIGRATION REMARKS IN THE ROSE GARDEN: “Our country and our economy would be stronger today if House Republicans had allowed a simple yes-or-no vote on this bill or, for that matter, any bill. They'd be following the will of the majority of the American people, who support reform. And, instead, they've proven again and again that they're unwilling to stand up to the Tea Party in order to do what's best for the country. And the worst part about it is a bunch of them know better.”

- Conservative candidate calls out moderate challenger for POTUS’ remarks –STATE REP. JOE CARR, R-TENNESSEE, IN A STATEMENT: “For President Obama to stand before the American people today and blame the tea party for the current crisis on the border is embarrassing and shameful. Someone should ask Lamar Alexander if he agrees with President Obama that the tea party is the cause of the border crisis."

- Ginsberg: SCOTUS ruling may create “havoc” -SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG IN HER DISSENT: “Persuaded that Congress enacted the (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) to serve a far less radical purpose, and mindful of the havoc the court's judgment can introduce, I dissent.”

- Pelosi invokes Kochs in statement slamming SCOTUS decision -HOUSE MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI IN A STATEMENT: “Although the court restricted their ruling to ‘closely-held’ companies, this ruling will immediately affect the lives of millions of women across the country. Over 90 percent of America’s businesses are ‘closely-held,’ including such large employers as Koch Industries and Bechtel.“

- Pope Francis' makes an appeal for peace in Iraq -POPE FRANCIS IN HIS PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY: “The news from Iraq is, unfortunately, very painful ... I join with the bishops of the country in their appeal to the authorities so that, through dialogue, national unity may be maintained and war avoided. I am close to the thousands of families, especially Christians, who have had to leave their homes and who are in grave danger. Violence begets violence; dialogue is the only path to peace. Let us pray to the Virgin Mary that she might safeguard the people of Iraq”.

TOP TWEETSWhat stopped us in 140 characters or less

Niels Lesniewski ‏(@nielslesniewski)
So, if I have this right, POTUS will pursue immigration changes on his own while also seeking an immigration-related emergency supplemental?

Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarliN)
Marco Rubio warned last year that Obama would take exec action if GOP didn't preempt him with reform. He was right: http://msnbc.com/hardball/marco …

Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, an active member of his California high school debate team, squared off against California Gov. Jerry Brown long before either man was involved in government. Asked In an interview with C-SPAN in 2010 if the California governor was any good, Breyer said, “Oh, yes, he was fine.”

soundoff(12 Responses)

it must be said

rs
it must be said
The disaster we now have WAS CAUSED BY OBAMA!! Now this clown dictator thinks he is going to use the crisis HE CREATED to use dictatorial powers to "fix" something?! It is clear the only "fix" we need is to impeach this leftist Hugo Chavez wannabee. Obama is looking for anything he can to distract from all of his failures, most of his own making.
_________________________
Please explain what President Obama did to cause parents of Central American kids to send their children to the United States- I must have missed that on the news. Meanwhile, it is oh-so-clear that if you don't want something fixed call the Republicans. 6 years of do-nothing whining. I'll put my money on the guy that DOES something.
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Yeah, the guy that does something, like turn everything he touches into dog poop. When Congress didn't pass the Dream Act Obama unilaterally granted amnesty to an entire class of illegals, YOUNG ILLEGALS. The amnesty approach of Obama and the Democrats has not gone unnoticed in Central America and Mexico. Obama and the Democrats have now created what amounts to an Amnesty & Citizenship Gold Rush stampede of our borders by illegals.

And now they see people getting here are even bussed and flown all around the country for every state to now pay for! And now Obama wants BILLIONS to fix a problem he and his clueless lying party have created. Billions more on top of the already several billions these illegals cost this country.

Obama and the Democrats are totally insane if they think this is all going to help them in November. This is going to cost every red state Democrat Senator his office, as it should. There is NO WAY any red state should be voting for a Democrat in the Senate. It will do nothing but ensure MORE OF THIS INSANITY.

June 30, 2014 05:56 pm at 5:56 pm |

Tommy G

The USSC repeatedly rules against our leftist dictator President and his reaction is to double down on his reckless and lawless actions that repeatedly cause damage to this country and its people. It is clear we are headed on a path to impeachment if Obama continues to try and nullify my elected representatives in Congress. I will not stand for it and I hope all of our elected representatives and Senators will not stand for it. Obama just seems hell bent on forcing this country into a Constitutional crisis, just as his actions have caused other problems.

Obama is going to permanently damage the Democrat Party if he keeps this up.

June 30, 2014 06:01 pm at 6:01 pm |

don in albuquerque

If church's can picket abortion clinics........guess what.

June 30, 2014 06:03 pm at 6:03 pm |

king

we are the laughing stock of the world, while china take our first place laughing at our stupidity. these folks think that destroying this country just to stop the Obama agenda is worth it. the problem is, would we want to stay conserving what we have or go hunt for more stuff progressively. after all we are living in another century with country competing to be the most modernized country on the planet. its too bad the repubs doesn't seem interested in this modernizing race, they are stuck on destroying this black president legacy. i wonder how far they can keep going to the brink before the whole country falls over.

June 30, 2014 06:25 pm at 6:25 pm |

Sniffit

"POPE FRANCIS IN HIS PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY:"

"God bless all corporate entities that we now welcome to our flock. Arrangements are being made for their baptisms and confirmations as practicing Christians and their places in the heaven above by His side will be secured by their use of their positions of authority and power over their employees to enforce the will of the Church and God."

Not. Pope Francis probably doesn't even agree with the SCOTUS on this one.

Hurray for Corporate Caliphates!!!!

June 30, 2014 07:29 pm at 7:29 pm |

Sniffit

"I like the alternating comments that Obama either:
– can do nothing
– is a dictator controlling everything
The radical right should get their rant theories straight."

Sorry, but the Teatrolls believe thoroughly that they are entitled to have their eucharist and eat it too.

June 30, 2014 07:41 pm at 7:41 pm |

geggyg

I don't agree that women should be able to get contraceptives without a prescription ( at least for the first couple of years ) as hormonal contraceptives can cause side effects or not work efficiently in different women . Women often need regular blood tests to ensure various hormones produced aren't changed drastically , and also that the hormone based pill is actively preventing fertilisation and implantation . If hormonal imbalances re caused it can cause other health problems beside reproductive health issues . Several of my sisters and nieces have had to use various types of "the pill" before they got a type that well with their bodies .
Even non hormonal contraceptives such as IUD's can cause problems for some women and need to monitored by doctors so long term reproductive health is maintained

June 30, 2014 09:18 pm at 9:18 pm |

Thomas

Anybody who questions the IRS looking into Non Profit croups needs to read this .

Whopping fine could change the way fundraisers for charity operate.
Non profit rasis 120 million for disabled veterans , then only gives the veterans Coconut M&M candies .

A total scam the the right wing conservative's don't want to monitor of regulate .

I kid you not , and the sup rim court say's it's ok .

June 30, 2014 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Gurgyl

Shame on Supreme Court. Nonsense. Total nonsense of these party biased judges of SC. Sheer nonsense. What religion in 21st century?

July 1, 2014 06:14 am at 6:14 am |

just saying

Carrie Dann (@CarrieNBCNews)
EMILY's List calls Hobby Lobby "stark reminder" of need for Dems to keep Senate. "We need every woman to get out and vote in November"
--–

why? to defend a women's "right" to force somebody else to pay for their abortion pills? sorry, the ussc just said that violates a person's religious rights. how about you all act like the big strong women you claim you are and pay for your own damn abortions and abortion pills!

July 1, 2014 07:00 am at 7:00 am |

it must be said

Bill from GA
it must be said – " The disaster we now have WAS CAUSED BY OBAMA! "
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" The disaster we now have goes back at least as far as Reagan, who chose to offer citizenship to anyone in the country. When such a precedent is set, what do you expect except for more and more to come?
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What you state is a total lie. We are discussing the newest Obama created immigration disaster. The storming of our borders by unaccompanied young kids. This is a direct result of Obama's lawless, reckless and clueless actions. His refusal to address border security is also now shown to be a fact as tens of thousands of kids have no problem at all getting across our border.

The problem now is that dems and repubs both refuse to deal with the situation, letting our country be overrun by anyone who can get here.
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Another lie. Republicans have laid out very good plans to deal with this problem in a step by step manner, starting FIRST with border security. As any sane person knows, you first stop the flooding before starting the repairs. But the Democrats and Obama refuse to do this. They have proven over and over they want open borders that anybody can cross at will.

Democrats have also refused to state they will enforce all immigration laws AS WRITTEN. No more catch and release. All caught here illegally after this "reform" MUST BE DEPORTED. It proves they have no intention of enforcing our laws, even after this "reform" so why bother wasting time, just as was done in the 80s. The border never got secured as it was agreed to even after millions were granted amnesty. And here we are again with the very same problem, only 10 times worse.

July 1, 2014 07:18 am at 7:18 am |

king

This congress have been sitting on the sidelines for the past 6 years forcing this president to go it alone. There refuasal tp legislate allows china to pass our economy. Our country is looking like a third world country every day, and all the repubs can do is come up with fake scandals, excusee not to work for average americans excluding big corporations, and demogogry 24 hours a day.